Call for applications to the PhD program CavX

July 18th, 2018

Students with a keen interest in neuroscience are invited to apply for one of 6 vacant doctoral studentships within the newly established PhD program
CavX – Calcium channels in excitable cells.In the PhD program, which is run by the Innsbruck’s Universities and financed by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), we are studying the roles of voltage-gated calcium channels (Cav) in health and disease. Students accepted into the program will be enrolled in the existing graduate program in Neuroscience and receive a specialized training in signaling processes of ion channels, membrane excitability, calcium signaling, and channelopathies.Research topics: Roles of voltage-gated calcium channels in CNS neurons, skeletal muscle and pancreas, brain disorders, retinal dysfunction, and diabetes.Candidates must hold a master's degree or equivalent in the life sciences, medicine, pharmacy or physics. Excellent command of English is indispensable.>>> Dowload files: Call and project descriptions / Application form<<<Applications must be received by May 28th 2018! The top candidates will be interviewed in Innsbruck in July 2018. Research will start in October 2018.Please scroll down for information on

Research projects

Project descriptions

General information

Application

Research projects

Characterization of the interactions established by STAC3 in skeletal muscle (Campiglio) - position is already filled!

Hormone synthesis and release from pancreatic islet cells is determined by the activity of several high-voltage gated calcium channels isoforms. Previously we have shown that genetic deletion of the α2δ-1 calcium channel subunit leads to diabetes in mice in a sex specific manner (Mastrolia et al. 2017, Diabetes). The goal of the current PhD thesis project is to identify the role of other calcium channel subunits loss-of function or gain-of function on pancreatic hormone release and β-cell survival. To this end, the successful PhD candidate will have the opportunity to utilize several knock-out or knock-in mouse models already present in the host laboratory or available through local collaborations. The lab welcomes outstanding international students with a Masters degree in life sciences, with a passion for research.
Methods: The project will involve a wide range of methods including electrophysiology (voltage clamp, current clamp, capacitance measurements), calcium imaging, super resolution fluorescent microscopy, histology, single cell RNA-seq, ELISA.
References: Mastrolia et al. (2017) Diabetes, 10.2337/db16-0336; Azizan et al. (2013) Nat. Genet. 10.1038/ng.2716; Barg et al. (2001) Biophys. J., 0006-3495/01/12/3308/16.Project leader: Petronel Tuluc, PhD

General information

1. Program description

Voltage-gated calcium channels (Cav) are critical regulators of vitally important cellular functions ranging from muscle contraction to brain functions such as learning and memory. Given their manifold roles it is not surprising that calcium channels are linked to a growing number of human diseases. Hence understanding the structural complexity, composition, and molecular interactions of calcium channels is key for elucidating their roles in physiological functions and ultimately in disease.In the CavX PhD program we combine the worldwide unique research focus on Cavs in Innsbruck with an excellent doctoral training in Neuroscience. To this end CavX builds on the excellent scientific and methodological expertise of the steadily growing Cav faculty in Innsbruck, which consist of a lively mixture of experienced and newly established research groups (Campiglio, Flucher, Koschak, Obermair, Striessnig, Tuluc). Thus CavX combines a strong scientific focus on calcium signaling in excitable cells in general and the role of Cavs in physiology and human disease in particular with a sound education in neuroscience. Scientifically CavX comprises projects on the structure-function relationships, specialized functions in vision and in hormone secretion, synaptic modulation and connectivity in brain disorders, as well as skeletal muscle function. These research topics are highly relevant for the pathophysiology and treatment of a variety of diseases including brain disorders (e.g. autism, anxiety), diabetes, night blindness, and myopathies.CavX utilizes state-of-the-art methodologies including newly developed cell culture models, unique genetically modified mice, super-resolution microscopy, electrophysiology and mouse behavior (Singewald), zebrafish technology (Grabner), and molecular modeling and dynamics (Liedl). All faculty members have a strong history of collaboration and PhD student training. This is evidenced by many joint publications, meetings, and joint research grants (e.g. SFB F44). The program also achieves high international visibility, e.g. by organizing the European Calcium Channel Conferences every three years, which brings the world leaders of the field to Innsbruck.CavX students will be offered a variety of networking opportunities and thereby connect with the other students. CavX faculty will contribute expertise and novel state-of-the-art methodology to the entire Neuroscience program. These intensified interactions will fill an important niche, namely the education of cellular and molecular neuroscientists with a particular focus on cellular physiology. This focus is of increasing international importance, particular for the identification of new drug targets for the future treatment of diseases for which current therapeutic approaches are insufficient (e.g. autism).

2. Requirements

Candidates must hold a master's degree or equivalent in the life sciences, medicine, pharmacy or physics. Excellent command of English is indispensable.

Accepted PhD students will be hosted at the PIs institutions at the Medical University of Innsbruck or at the University of Innsbruck.

The PhD student salary is according to the rates of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) for PhD students plus travel funds for international scientific meetings (link).